THE MAFIA BOSS LOCKED UP THE BABYSITTER WHO CARRIED TWO HALLOWEEN BABIES OUT OF A BURNING MANSION UNTIL THE DEAD MOTHER'S PHONE SHOWED THE LAST NUMBER SHE EVER CALLED

Four hours later, the black Escalade sat idling at the private hangar terminal at Midway Airport.

Dante was loading three leather bags into the cargo hatch of a small private jet parked on the tarmac.

Josie stood near the passenger door of the Escalade, holding Maya on her hip, while Leo held tightly onto her hand, staring up at the giant airplane with wide, curious eyes.

Nico walked over to them, wearing his clean gray suit, his hands tucked into his pockets.

Josie looked at him, her dark hair blowing gently in the morning wind.

"Are you sure we'll be safe in Vermont?" she asked softly.

"No one knows about the cabin except Paulie," Nico said. "And Paulie is currently on a boat to Florida. You're invisible now, Josie."

She took a step closer to him, her eyes soft and sincere.

"What happens to you now?" she asked. "The police... the fire..."

"The police will find Walter Brandt's body in a railyard with a hard drive that explains twenty years of corruption," Nico said flatly. "The Valenti family will keep running its docks."

Josie smiled—a faint, beautiful smile that reached her eyes for the first time since he had met her on that burning lawn.

"You're a good man, Nico Valenti," she whispered. "Even if you try very hard to pretend you're not."

Nico didn't answer. He reached out and gently patted little Leo's head, the boy letting out a happy giggle as he gripped Nico’s index finger.

"Take care of them, Josie," Nico said softly.

"I will," she promised. "Always."

She turned and walked up the steps into the aircraft, carrying the children into their new life.

Nico stood on the windy tarmac, watching the small plane taxy down the runway, lift off into the bright morning sky, and vanish into the clouds over Lake Michigan.

Dante walked up beside him, lighting a fresh cigarette.

"What now, boss?" Dante asked.